News

As part of MPowering the State, there exists a fundamental need to align information technology (IT) identity and access approaches between the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) and the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP).

To address that need, key leaders and technologists from each university’s IT organization have blended their ideas in a series of formalized discussions aimed to chart broadly aligned, MPower-advancing solutions.

The group set up three task forces, each designed to pursue a specific required element for building the infrastructure to provide ever-present access.

1. Email and Directory Services—mainstays of communication, scheduling, and identity management
2. Enterprise and Web-based applications—key elements that allow each university’s community to gain access to online applications offered at the other (as subsequently approved by the various functional “owners” of data/information systems)
3. IT Security and Policy—ensuring that the integrity of UMB and UMCP environments is maintained as access is broadened via the MPowering the State initiative

Already in place is the highly visible and valued eduroam service, which permits access to wireless connectivity across both campuses (and to a growing number of institutions within the University System of Maryland and globally).

The three task forces will be meeting on a regular basis as they explore the technologies and challenges faced in the specific areas. The larger group will be meeting via teleconference and face-to-face (weekly and monthly, respectively). The chief information officers (CIOs) of the universities (Peter J. Murray of UMB and Brian D. Voss of UMCP) will be reviewing and monitoring progress and addressing any needs for resources or decisions.

While strategies are developed and long-term elements are implemented, the group will continue to seek out short-term solutions to challenges faced by “early adopters” in the growing MPowering initiative, ensuring that IT enables, not hinders, these initial activities.

Progress is already visible, as the campus-consistency issues that were raised by the CIOs in late 2012 are seeing improvement. A growing number of “independent” campus entities are either migrating to centralized offerings (which will advance inter-campus alignments) or are considering doing so.

Contact the following for more information:

Peter J. Murray, PhD, Chief Information Officer, Vice President, UMB

Brian D. Voss, Chief Information Officer, Vice President, UMCP